At the foot of the scenic Highway One / Big Sur coast, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is the quaint seaside village of Cambria. An artist’s colony nestled in a forest of towering Monterey pines, Cambria offers visitors sophisticated restaurants, art galleries, antique and specialty shops and scores of nearby wineries.
Just six miles south of world renowned Hearst Castle, this picturesque village has a variety of hotels, motels, bed and breakfast’s, inns and vacation home rentals. Cambria is known for the friendliness and hospitality of its residents. A leisurely pace and country village atmosphere is the town’s main attractions, particularly for urban residents seeking a quiet, romantic getaway.
Cam-bria, Came-bria, or Cahm-bria?
Cambria has gone by various names over the years ranging from Santa Rosa, Rosaville, San Simeon and the decidedly unromantic Slabtown. As the story goes, a local committee changed the town’s name to Cambria in 1869, which, according to Funk & Wagnalls, is Latin for Wales. Another rumor has it that a committee member had recently visited Cambria County in Pennsylvania and the woodsy mining area reminded him of home.
A controversy persists in Cambria about its correct pronunciation. One group calls it “Came-bria”, another “Cam-bria”, and still another indignant group claims it’s “Cahm-bria”. In Cambria, you’ll hear all three pronunciations– and everything in between!
Something for everyone 
With three banks, two grocery stores, two hardware stores, an outdoor Farmers Market, and numerous convenience stores, the needs of residents and tourists are well served in Cambria.
Cambria also has a wealth of excellent restaurants, charming antique shops, quaint bookstores, and art galleries. This small village has its own theatrical troupe, radio station, garden club, tennis courts and weekly newspaper. Recreational activities abound from kayaking, surfing, and swimming to biking, walking, and elephant seal watching.
Quality Educational Opportunities
There are four schools in Cambria: Cambria Grammar School, Santa Lucia Middle School, Coast Union High School and the New Dawn Learning Center, a private Montessori School. Academic standards are high at all four schools which are staffed by competent professionals who genuinely care about the education and nurture of youth.
Community Links
